Locking device for the steering wheels of motor vehicles



2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented July 26, 1921.

ILA. PYISE.

LOCKING DEVI'CEFOR THE STEERING WHEELS 0F MOTORNEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.v 7, 1920.

l g/Ziff MAQ/7M I A T7 y f R. A. PYKE. LOCKING DEVICE FOR THE sTEEHlN WHEELS 0F MoT'oR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION F-lLED JAN. 7| 1920.

1,385,469. Patented July 26, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

46 j y 2l A UNITED STATES leailsia'i. OFFICE.

LOCKING 'DEVICE FOR THE STEERING-WHEELS OF MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 26, 1921.

v.Application filed January 7', 1920. Serial No. 349,963.

To all whom t may concern: l

Be it known that I, Ronnr ARCHIBALD Prim, a British subject, residing at Murray street,.Colae, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Locking Devices for the Steering-VVheels of Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to `an improved locking device for the steering wheels of motor vehicles, whereby the steering mechanism may be temporarily rendered inoperative, so that the vehicle may be left unattended without fear of its being stolen or driven away iii the drivers absence, the main object of the invention being to provide a secret combination locking means which will enable the driver to effectively lock the steering mechanism in inoperative position as well as in operative position, and which locking means involves certain manipulations of a rotatable member, which manipulations the operator mustbe familiar with in order to return the locking mechanism into operative position.

` A further object of the invention is to provide a pair of members rotatable relatively to each other and each bearing aseries Vof numerals or other characters, certainof which must be brought into registering position in order to render the steering mechanism operative.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and combination of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly` broken away, of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle, illustrating one embodiment of the present invention applied thereto; n

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the steering wheel shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line q a of Fig. 1, and illustrating the-correct relative positions of the parts when the steering wheel is in inoperative position;

Fig. /l is a` partial transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line Zi-J of Fig. 1, illustrating the positions of the parts when the steering wheel is in operative position;

.Figs. 5, 6, 8 and 9 are detail sectional side views respectively of a rotatable cap and cooperating members forming part of the improved loclring device;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a core also forming part of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a side view of the locking plunger or key;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section forming a device;

I Fig.. 12 is a horizontal section taken approzhrimately on the line c-c of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 isa sectional elevation of a barrel adapted to lcooperate with said cam cup;

Fig. .14 ishorizontal section taken approilrimately on the line d-@Z of Fig. 13;

l Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of the rotatable cap shown in Fig. 5; and

.Figs 16 and 17 are diagrammatic plan views, partly in section, illustrating the relative position of the locking bolt holes and recesses hereinafter described, when the steering wheel is in operative and inoperative positions respectively, Fig. 16 being taken approximately on the line e-e of Fig. 13, while Fig. 17 illustrates only one half of the members shown in Fig. 16.

The same characters of reference designate the same parts in the different figures of the drawings. Referring to the drawings, 31 designates the usualsteering post or rod of a motor vehicle. Keyed to the post 31 is a tubular member 28 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 7 which I of a cam cup part of the improved locking have termed a core, and which member is` of greater external diameter at its central portion than at its ends, thereby forming a shoulder at each side of said central portion. This core is provided in its central enlarged portion with a plurality of radial openings 29 for a purpose to be hereinafter described, and is externally threaded at one side of said enlarged central portion so as to form a neck 30.

l5 designates a tubular member which I have termed herein a barreh the bore of which is of' three different diameters, two of which are adapted to lit respectively the enlarged portion of the core and the unthreaded portion thereof adjacent to said enlarged portion, whereby a shoulder 27 within the barrel 15 forms a seat for the lower exterior shoulder of the core. The portion of the bore of the barrel having the largest diameter is interiorly threaded and of such a depth as to form a. shoulder the up,- per surface of which is in the saine horizontal plane as the surface of the upper shoulder formed by the enlarged portion of the core 28 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 13). Thev barrel 15 is also provided near its upper end, with a radially extending opening and a radial recess 26 for coperation with` a locking plunger` to behereinafter described., said opening and recess being shown both clearly in Figs. 13, 16 and 17. A plurality of radial arms 13 are formedI integral with the barrel 15, and to the outerend of the arm is secured the usual steering wheel or handle 14. The barrel 15 is also provided with a plurality ofrradial openings 16l so, located as to register with the openings 29 in the core 2S, and withiny each of the openings 1 6 is located a slidable pin 17, the barrel 15 being provided with an annular recess or groove (see Fig. 1,4)- for the reception of springmembers 18,y the ends of which aro secured in slots in the outer endV of the. pin 17, the tension of the springs normally maintaining the pin projected outwardly from the cjenings 16. For maintaining the. core and barrel in position for rotation relative tor each other, 'l have prox/ideal an exteriorly threaded washer 48, the thread of' which engages the interior thread of the barrel,v the thickness of the. washer being such as to bridge the shoulders-of the barrel 'and core,

as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Mounted for rotation on the barrel 15: is a meml'ier 33 hereinafter. called a cani cup having formed inits circumferential wall, a plurality of cam recesses or grooves 35, shown most clearly in Fig. 1,2, adapted to operate the pins 17 against the tension of the springs V13. Above said grooves, the bore of the member 33 is of tWo. different diameters, forming a pair of stepped. annu,- lar recesses (see Figs. 3 and 11), the bottoni or" the upper one of which is in the saine` horizontal plane as the extreme upper end of the barrel 15, and the lower one of which forms a space between the outer surface of said barrel and the circumferential wallof the cani cup 33 and within which space is located an annular locking` rin-g 2O,v the bore of which is adapted to flt around the barrel 15, the barrel being provided with anv eX- ternal tangential recess in which is secured a spring 24 (see Fig. 16) for maintaining.

aV proper amount of friction between the ringv and barrel. The ring 2O is provided in. its lower edge with: a semi-circular recess 21 and an approximately V-#shaped notchK 22, and at its upper. edge with a pro,- iecting pin or lug. 23, for purposes to be hereinafter described..

coperation withl the mechanism above set forth, a rotatable. cap 4,2 is prof For vided, of the form best shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 15. This cap is beveled at its upper Outer edge and is. provided with a central opening 47 and an annular recess in its upper side of larger diameter than said opening, thereby forming an inwardly extending flange. The cap is provided at its undersideA with a depending flange 45, the inner wall of which 'is stepped as shown clearly in Figs. 5 and The beveled portion of the cap, 42 is of such a diameter as to fit within 'the uppermost recess of` the member 33, while theldepending flange 45 lits within the recess between the wall of said member and. the locking ries; 20 Sad, fing bei-ng provided withy an exterior annular shoulder abutting against the wall of the recess of smallerAV diameter at the underside of thev cap 4 2, whereby an annular space is left open. between the outer lower surface of the ring and, the inner lower side of the depending' flange 45 as shown at the leftliand side of Fig. 3. lghe.y cap 42 is also provided with a groove 44 in its lower face eX- tending almost entirely therearound for the reception of the. pin 23 carried by the ring 2Q,I a stop or block 43 being left in the groove for cooperation with said pin at the propertirne. The depending flange 45 is provided with. a. radial opening 4,6r adapted t0- I'eeister With the Opening 25. and the recess216-of the barrel at different times. For maintaining allV of the.. parts in. position for rotation relatively tok the core, 2S, a cap 49, shown in detail in Fig. 8, is provided, said cap having aninteriorly threaded depending llange adapted to. engage the threaded end of the core 23,a-`I 1d the outer surfaceY of which, flange engages; the inner wall of the washer 48, said cap,- being also provided 105 withv a nadia-l flange adapted te rest on the inwardly extending flange of the'member 42 as. showny inI Fig. 3, whereby all of the parts arev retained in position on they steering post, while. the member-s, 42, and 15, together 110 with thelocking ringl 2O and. the washer 48,

are rotatable around; thecore 28.

A. plunger bolt or key 3;?, controlled by a spring 38, is housed within a socket arm 36v extendingradiially'from the-cam cup 33, said 115 plunger being retained inl said? arinz byrneans. of a gland 4L threaded into the end of the l socket. A pair; of notches orl kerfs 39 and 40 are formed in.l one side of the plunger 37 (see F ig. 10i) and' are adapted to co- 120 opera-te withN thez flange 454 of the rotatable cap 42 andj with the. body ofy the ring 20 for` locking the parts in operative or inoperativev position. The bolt or plunger key may be POldd, if desired, with any suit- ,125 ablemeans for preventing: rotation thereof, and, as shown herein, is provided with a headv or button: 50.` for manually operating the key.

@ne of; the steering arms 1,3. isprovded V130 with an upstanding pin or stud 32, which projects into a recess 34 formed in the underside of the cam cup 33, the walls ot which recess form stops engaging said stud thereby to limit the relative rotary movement between the barrel 15 and the cam cup 83, the recess being lot approximately the same length as the distance, between the center ot the opening 25 and the recess 26'in the barrel.

ln the operative position ot the steering wheel, shown in lfig. 4, the cam pins or bolts 17 have been forced .inwardly by the cam groove 35 ot the cam cup so that they enthe opening 29 in the core 28, thereby locking thecore for rotation with the barrel 15. in this operative position, the end oi the plunger 37 is in the recess 26 in the outer surface ot the barrel 15, while the groove 6` ot' the plunger is engaged by the depending iiange 45 of the cap 42 and the web forming the wall of the groove 40 nearest the end ot the plunger is in the space between the iiange 45 and the ring 20, the reduced end of' the plunger' then occupying the lif-shaped niche 22 in the ring, which niche is then in alinement with thel recess 26 in the wall ot the barrel. lilith the parts in this relative position, t ie plunger cannot be withdrawn troni the recess 26, so that the steering mechanism is locked in operative position. lt will be obvious, of course, that the direction oi rotation ot the cap 42 may be changed according to whether the stop 423 is at one side or the other oi the pin 23 oi the ring 20.

ln order to render the steering wheel inoperative the cap 42 must Jtirst be rotated to bring the opening 46 in its depending iiange 45 again into alinement with the recess 26 in the'barrel so as to permit the webs ot the plunger to pass the frange 45, whereupon the plunger' is withdrawn from the recess 26 ot the barrel and from the niche 22 ot the ring 2G. The cam cup can then be rotated relatively to the barrel until the cam grooves 85 have permitted the pin 17 to recede under the action et their springs 18 from engagement with the opening 29 in the corev 28,'which rotation also brings the opening` 25 in the barrel into alinement with the plunger socket 36. rIhe plunger 37 is now still further withdrawn to permit rotation of the cap 42 until its stop 43 engages the pin oi' the ring 20. This brings the opening 21 oty the ring into alinemen't with the opening 46.in thek iiange 45 ot' the cap, and the cap and ring are'rotatedr together'until these openings are brought into alinement ith the opening 25 in the barrel and with the plunger socket, whereupon the plunger, under the action otits spring 38, will project into the opening 25 in the barrel and thereby lock'the same against rotation relatively to the cam cup. VThe cap 42 may then be partially rotated to carry the opening 46 in its flange 45 and the opening 21 in the ring out of alinement with the opening 25, so that the flange 45 now occupies the lreiiC 39 of the plunger', while the body of the ring 2O occupies the other korf 40, thereby preventing withdrawal of the plunger and locking the steering mechanism inninoperative position.

The beveled upper surfaces of the cap 42 and the cam cup 33 may be provided with any desired characters which must be brought into register with each other to indicate to the operator the proper relative position of the cap and cam cup to permit operation ot the plunger 37 for locking the parts in operative and inoperative positions. ln the present instance, the cam cup and cap are provided each with a series of numeral-s, and it will readilyV be seen that these numerals, may be arranged in such relative positions that when a certain pair are in alinement, the opening 46 in the iiange 45 and the opening 21 in the ring 2O are also in alinement with the opening 25 in the barrel to permitY the plunger key to be withdrawn, and some other combination ot the nume `als may be arranged for indicating when the opening 46 and the niche 22 in the ring are in alinement with the recess 26 in the barrel.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that it would be extremely difficult, and practically impossible, for any person not acquainted withithe necessary adjustment to bring the ring and tiangeopenings opposite the openings or the recess in the barrel. lt will be understood, of course,' that l do not limit my invention to the use ol? any particular number of pins and cor responding apertures in the barrel and core. l have found, however, that four cam pins give satistactory results.

llaving thus described my invention, what .i claim is:

1. The combination with the steering wheel and post of a motor vehicle, oi a core secured to said post tor rotation therewith and provided with a plurality of radial openings` a barrel secured to said wheel and encircling said core for rotation relatively thereto, slidable members carried by said barrel and adapted to engage the openings. in the core `thereby to secure the barrel and core 'for rotation together, means normally holding said members out of engagement with said openings, a cam cup mounted tor rotation on said barrel and having` a plurality of cams 'for operating said slidable members into engagement with said openings, and means lior locking said barrel with slidable members both in and out oi engagement with the openings.

2. rlhe combination with the steering wheel and post ot a motor vehicle, of a core secured on said post for rotation therewith, a barrel secured to said wheel and encircling said core for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by said barrel tor engaging said core thereby to permit rotation of the barrel ano Core together, member mounted on said barrel ttor rotation relatively thereto, means carried by said member iior oper. ting said core engaging means during its rotation relative to the barrel, means tor limiting` the rotation oi' said member relative to said barrel, and means tor locking said membei' and barrel together at either limit olf relative rotation.

The Combination with the st Wheel and post ot a motor veliio secured to said post io t? a barrel secured to said n1 said core for rotation ri means carried by said bar said core thereby to perl' barrel and on said barrel for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by sain member for operating said core e means during its rotation relative to the barrel, and means for locking said member and barrel together, said means comprising a. spring-pressed carried by said member l and adapted to enter an opening in said barrel.

4C. rihe combination with the steering Wheel and post oipv a motor vehicle, oi' a core scoured to said pest for rotation therewith, a barrel secured to said vflieel and encircling said core for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by said barrel for engaging said core thereby to permit rotat ot' the barrel and core together, mem-b r monnted on said barrel tor rotation relatively there to, means carried by said member tor operating said core engaging means during its rotation relative to the barrel, means for* locking said member and barrel together.v said means Comprising a spring-pressed key carried by said member and adapted to enter an opening in said barrel, means for preventing Withdrawal of said key trom said opening.

5. The combination with steering Wheel and post or' a motor vehicle, oi a core secured on said post Yfor rotation therewith, a barrel secured to said Wheel ei'ieircling said core for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by sai-fl barrel .For engaging said core thereby to permit rotation ot the barrel and core together, a member mounted on said barrel tor rotation relatively thereto, means carried b v said member 'for operating said core engaging means during its rot-ation relative to the barrel, means for limiting` the rotation of said member relative to said barrel, means for locking said member and barrel together at eitherY limit of rela-y tive rotation, said means comprising a slotted spring-pressed key carried by said member and adapted to enter an opening in said barrel, and a rotatable cap having a depending 'flange extending into one 0i the slots of said key tor preventing the Withdrawal thereof.

6. The combination with the steering Wheel and post of a motor vehicle, of a core secured on said post for rotation therewith, a barrel secured to said Wheel and encircling said core for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by said barrel for engaging said core thereby to permitI rotation of the barrel and core together, a member mounted on said barrel for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by said member Jfor operating said core engaging means during its rotation relative to the barrel, means for limiting the rotation ont said member relative to said barrel, means for locking said member and barrel together at either limit oi relative rotation, said means comprising a slotted spring-pressed key carried by said member and adapted to enter an opening in said barrel, and a rotatable cap having a depending ange extending into one of the slots of said key for preventing the Withdrawal thereof, said flange having an opening for permitting Withdrawal of the key when the cap is rotated into proper position.

7. The combination with the steering Wheel and post of a motor vehicle, ot' a core secured on said post for rotation therewith, a barrel secured to said Wheel and encircling said core for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by said barrel for engaging said core thereby to permit rotation of the barrel and core together, a member mounted or. said barrel 'for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by said member for operating said core engaging means during its rotation relative to the barrel, means for limiting the rotation of said member relative to said barrel, means i'or locking said member an-d barrel together at either limit of relative rotation, said means4 comprising a slotted spring-pressed key carried by said member and adapted to enter an opening in said barrel, a rotatable cap: having a ,depending flange extending into one of the slots of said key for preventing the Withdrawal thereof, and meansfor retaining said cap in rotary engagement with said barrel.

8. The combination With the steering Wheel and post of a motor vehicle, of a core securedy on said post for rotation therewith, a barrel secured to said Wheel and encircling said core for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by said barrel for engaging said core thereby to permit rotation of the barrel and core together, a member mounted on said barrel for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by said member for 0perating said core engaging means during its rotation relative tothe barrehtmeans for limiting the rotation of said member relative to said barrel, meansv for locking said member and barrel together at either limit of relative rotation, said means comprising a slotted spring-pressed key carried by said member and adapted to enter an opening in said barrel, a rotatable cap having a depending flange extending into one of the slots of said key for preventing the withdrawal thereof, and a locking ring rotatable with said cap and adapted to engage another slot in said key. 1

9. The combination with the steering wheel. and post of a motor vehicle, of a core secured on said post for rotation therewith, a barrel secured to said wheel and encircling said core for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by saidbarrel for engaging said core thereby to permit rotation of the barrel and core together, a member mounted on said barrel for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by said member for operating said core engaging means during its rotation relative to the barrel, means for limiting the rotation of said member relative to said barrel, means for locking said member and barrel together at either limit of relative rotation, said means comprising a slotted spring-pressed key carried by said member and adapted to enter an opening in said barrel, a rotatable cap having a depending flange extending into one of the slots of said key for preventing the withdrawal thereof, and a locking ring rotatable with said cap and adapted to engage another slot in said key, said flange and ring each having an opening for permitting withdrawal of the key when the cap is rotated. into proper position.

10. The combination with the steering wheel and post of a motor vehicle, of a core secured on said post for rotation therewith, a barrel secured to said wheel and encircling said core for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by said barrel for engaging said core thereby to permit rotation of the barrel and core together,` a member mounted on said barrel -for rotation relatively thereto, cams carried by said member for operating said core engaging means during its rotation relative to the barrel,

means for locking said cam-carrying member and barrel together, and means `for indicating the unlocking'position of said locking means.

ll. The combination with the steering wheel and post of a motor vehicle, of a core secured on said post for rotation therewith, abarrel secured to said wheel and encircling said corev for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by said barrel for engaging said core thereby to permit rotation of the barrel and core together, a nl'ember mounted on said barrel for rotation relatively thereto, oams `carried by said 'member for operating said core engaging means during its rotation relative to the barrel, means for limiting the Y rotation of said member relative to said barrel, means` for locking said member and barrel together at either limit of relative rotation, said means comprisinga slotted spring-pressed key carried by said member and adapted toenter an opening in said barrel, and a rotatable cap having a depending flange extending into one of the slots of said key for preventing the withdrawal thereof, saidfiange having an opening i''or permitting withdrawal of the key when the cap is rotated into proper position, and registering indicia carried by said cam-carrying member and cap for indicating the unlocking position of said flange.

l2. The combination with the steering wheel and post of a motor vehicle, of a core secured on said post for rotation therewith, a barrel secured to said wheel and encircling said core for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by said barrel for engaging said core thereby to permit rotation of the barrel and core together, a member mounted on said barrel for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by said member for operating said core engaging means during its rotation relative to the barrel, means for limiting the rotation of said member relative to said barrel, means for locking said member and barrel together at either limit of relative rotation, said means comprising a slotted spring-pressed key carried by said member and adapted to enter an opening in said barrel, a rotatable Cap having a depending flange extending into one of the slots of said key for preventing the withdrawal thereof, said cap being provided with an annular groove and a stop in said groove, and a locking ring between Said barrel and liange and having a pin projecting into said groove and adapted to be engaged by said stop thereby to rotate said ring with said cap, said ring engaging another slot in said key.

18. The combination with the steering wheel and post of a motor vehicle, or" a core secured on said post for rotation therewith, a barrel Secured to said wheel and encircling said core for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by said barrel for engaging Vsaid core thereby to permit rotation of the barrel and core together, a member mounted on said barrel for rotation relatively thereto, means carried by said member ior operating said core engaging means during its rotation relative to the barrel, means for limiting the rotation of said member relative to said barrel, means for locking said member and barrel together at either limit of relative rotation, said means comprising a slotted spring-pressed key carried by said member and adapted to enter an opening in Said barrel, a rotatable cap having a depending flange vextending into one vof the slots of said key for preventing the withdrawal thereof, said cap lbeing provided with an 'annular groove and a stop in said groove, and a locking ring between said barrel and flange and having a pin projecting into said groove and adapted to be engaged yby said stop thereby to rotate said ring with said cap, said ring engaging another slot in said key, said flange and ring each having an opening for permitting withdrawal ofthe 'ke-y when the cap is otated into proper position, and registering indicia carried by tivov of said rotatable members for lindicating the unloeking position of said'ange and ring. y

In testimony whereof l have signed 'my naine to this Specification in the presence of twoV subscribing Witnesses.

ROBERT ARCHIBALD PYKE. /Vitnesses:

LESLIE LAWTON BEAR,

JESSIE STUART. 

